At age 32, we’d like to suggest Brendan Gallagher is aging like fine wine.
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“I don’t know. I’m not a big wine guy,” the Canadiens’ winger said after Friday morning’s practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “I’m more a beer guy.
“There’s been times where I haven’t played good hockey,” Gallagher continued. “There’s been times where I’ve played good hockey and been rewarded. Played poor hockey and got rewarded. Over the course of your career I think it all evens out. You put in the time in the summer, you take care of yourself and put in the work, you hope it pays off. But it’s too early in the year to be thinking like that. I feel confident. I feel comfortable. There’s still areas of my game where I’d like to improve and find ways to contribute a little bit more.”
Heading into Saturday night’s Bell Centre match against the Vegas Golden Knights (7 p.m., City-TV, SN, TVA Sports, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM), Gallagher has eight goals and 10 points through 19 games. Only Cole Caufield, with 12 goals, has lit the lamp more. Gallagher signed a six-year, US$39-million contract extension in October 2020.
Perhaps this is just a continuation of last season’s late resurgence, when Gallagher scored five goals and added three assists over Montreal’s final five games, giving him 16 goals and 31 points in 77 contests. The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder has made a career from parking his body in front of the net, and has the bumps and bruises to show for his conviction.
He’s now in his 13th season with the Canadiens, is the team’s longest-serving member, and understands better than anyone the rich tradition associated with the organization and its rabid fan base. Gallagher also seems to have found a comfort level with linemates Josh Anderson and Christian Dvorak.
“Pucks are just finding a way to go in right now,” Gallagher said. “There’s times when they’re not. That’s why I look at my game in other regards. There’s other things I measure and like to do on the ice. Right now, I feel like I’m doing them and am being rewarded. But there’s times where that hasn’t been the case.
“All I’m trying to do is be consistent for my coaches and my teammates. Be relied upon and hopefully be there every night. Every once in a while they go in. Everyone wants to contribute. There’s lots of ways to contribute. You can contribute to a team’s success in a lot of different ways. Sometimes it’s not always recognized or measured.”
It certainly hasn’t hurt Gallagher’s cause that he has recovered from his litany of injuries. From the fractured jaw he suffered during the 2020 playoffs — while playing with a tear in his hip — to twice breaking his hand and twice fracturing his ankle, limiting him to 37 games during the 2022-23 season, Gallagher has paid the price for his style of play.
In the past, Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis has expressed a desire to have Gallagher re-wire his approach to the game, relying on his experience and acumen to prosper rather than draining his physical energy. If the message has been slow to resonate, St. Louis has no qualms with the veteran’s play, suggesting he has improved his “software.”
“It’s never too late,” St. Louis said, making an analogy to new and improved versions of Apple iPhones. “When you improve the software, you have more options. I know Gally’s really good in front of the net, but that’s not all he’s doing now. He’s doing way more. When you’re constantly battling with somebody in front of the net, it takes a toll and you’re probably prone to more injuries when that’s all you’re doing.
“He understands … sometimes it’s his turn to go. But it’s not his only job on the ice. He’s playing the whole game more. I think he’s having fun playing. Obviously he’s getting some results, which makes it fun. But it’s not luck.”
The Canadiens will attempt to win a third consecutive game for the first time this season on Saturday — something they accomplished only once in 2023-24 in late March, defeating Seattle, Colorado and Philadelphia on the road. Montreal has been idle since Monday, while the Golden Knights will be playing their third road game in four nights.
“We should come out with some good energy,” St. Louis said. “I think our start is very, very important.”
Note: Patrik Laine, recovering from an exhibition game knee injury, practised at full speed with his teammates and didn’t seem affected. He wasn’t made available to the media.